Cedeno Asks Union to Investigate

Detroit Tiger outfielder Roger Cedeno has asked the players’ union to investigate whether he was benched for the final three weeks of the season to keep him from collecting contract bonuses, said his agent, Peter Greenberg.

Cedeno last played Sept. 10, a day before the major leagues postponed games for nearly a week because of the terrorist attacks.

After a workout during the six-game layoff, Cedeno and Tiger Manager Phil Garner got into an argument in the clubhouse.

Cedeno was benched when play resumed Sept. 17 and didn’t play the remaining 19 games. He finished the season three plate appearances short of earning a $50,000 bonus, Greenberg said.

Tiger General Manager Randy Smith wasn’t immediately available to comment.

The Detroit News reported that Smith said Cedeno was benched “because of direct insubordination to the manager.”

Sports agent Thomas Tanzer filed a slander suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Colorado Rockies, claiming team officials defamed him during contract negotiations for pitcher Matt Harrington of Palmdale.

Harrington was Colorado’s first-round selection in the 2000 draft, but never signed with the club. Tanzer claims the Rockies reneged on a $4.95-million signing bonus they offered the pitcher before the draft.

Tanzer allegedly would not accept lower offers from the club, which the prompted the Rockies to begin a “scheme to provoke Harrington to terminate Tanzer as his agent,” the suit claims.

The suit alleges the team made numerous false statements to the media about Tanzer, claiming the agent was responsible for preventing an agreement and that he refused to let the Rockies speak to the pitcher’s parents.

Tanzer said he should receive at least $1 million in special damages, as well as general and punitive damages.

Representatives for the Rockies did not return calls.

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The Chicago Cubs claimed Angel infielder Jose Fernandez off waivers.

Fernandez, 26, was the Angels’ minor league player of the year, batting .338 with 30 homers and 114 runs batted in at triple-A Salt Lake.

He led the Pacific Coast League in RBIs and was second in batting average and homers.

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Pittsburgh Pirate catcher Jason Kendall will have reconstructive surgery today on his left thumb, but is expected to be ready for spring training.

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The Boston Red Sox cut fan favorite Morgan Burkhart and light-hitting shortstop Craig Grebeck, 36.

Grebeck filled in at shortstop for the injured Nomar Garciaparra, but batted .049 in 23 games before a season-ending injury.